Car and Green Line train on training run crash in downtown Minneapolis

A car and a light-rail train on a training run collided in downtown Minneapolis late Sunday night.

The accident happened at 10:40 p.m. at 5th Street and Portland Avenue.

The car's driver, a young woman, was evaluated by paramedics on the scene and released. The train operator was not hurt, said John Siqveland, a Metro Transit spokesman.

The Green Line train was traveling on 5th Street, heading toward Target Field, when the southbound vehicle on Portland collided with the train, Siqveland said.

The car's front end was heavily damaged and the vehicle was towed from the scene. There was minor damage to the train, which had a small front-side panel knocked loose. It departed under its own power after about an hour, Siqveland said.

The rail operator was tested for drugs and alcohol, which is standard procedure.

The Green Line between St. Paul and Minneapolis is scheduled to begin passenger service on Saturday. Sunday's accident was the fourth crash involving Green Line trains since practice runs began earlier this year.

Blue Line trains continued to run without interruption, but both northbound and southbound trains shared an open track near the scene, Siqveland said.

On Monday morning, the scene was clear and train traffic was running without delay.

Anthony Lonetree has been covering St. Paul Public Schools and general K-12 issues for the Star Tribune since 2012-13. He began work in the paper's St. Paul bureau in 1987 and was the City Hall reporter for five years before moving to various education, public safety and suburban beats.

Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. Harlow also covers general assignment and breaking news and weather.

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